Cheap Bikes: How to Choose and buy The Right Bike for you

Are you looking to get a new bike this summer? It can be pretty overwhelming to choose the right one once you see them all lined up at the store.

The best way to find a bike that is right for you is to ask yourself “What kind of rider am I?” Are you a racer looking for a speedy, lightweight bike? Are you planning on riding on rocky terrain or do you plan on sticking to paved roads and bike paths? Or do you plan on using your new bike to casually commute or enjoy a light Sunday ride?

Here are a few different types of bikes and what they are used for:

Mountain Bike: It’s a popular bike since it’s durable, fast and versatile, so you’re not limited to certain types of roads. This bike has a gear system, which is helpful when you’re trucking up hills. This bike has wide, knobby tires, so you can ride on almost any surface including dirt roads, mountain trails, and paved streets. It also has a sturdy frame and suspensions, which are helpful when you’re on rugged terrain.

Road Bike: If you’re planning on sticking to paved bike paths and streets, this could be the bike for you. This bike is built for speed, so it can be used for racing, but also just for riding around. It has a lightweight frame and strong yet thin tires that are less than an inch wide.

Hybrid Bike: It is influenced from both the road bike and the mountain bike, hence the name hybrid. Ultimately the manufacturer determines if the hybrid leans more to the mountain or road bike side. This is a bike designed for use on roads and bike paths. The bike aims to retain the features of mountain bikes, which have made them accessible and popular, but are designed to be more suitable for urban use.

Track Racing Bike: This bike is for serious racing. The handlebars are low, enabling the rider to lean down and increase his speed. It’s extremely lightweight and has no brakes, since brakes would add extra weight. It also has one fixed gear, so the rider can go as fast as possible. If you are planning on racing, this is the kind of bike you should look at.

Street Bike (City Bike/Granny Bike): The city bike is very popular in urban areas right now, but they’re especially popular in Holland. These bikes are made more for casually strolling the streets and/or commuting than for serious riding. The tires are like those you would find on a road bike but the bike itself is more elongated than your average bike.

Cheap Bikes - Fit’s Tips: I definitely recommend going to a trusty bike shop and riding a bunch of bikes to see what feels best to you. Also be sure to pick up a helmet when you buy that shiny new bike – You’ve got to protect that fabulous brain of yours.

Cheap Bikes: Buying the Right Bike for You

Once you’ve figured out the best style of bike for you, it’s time to start shopping. Buying a bike is not on the same level of commitment as, say, getting married, it is still a decision that warrants some thought. And, especially if you are considering buying a bike for the first time, it can seem as if your options are nearly endless. Whether you’ve never bought one before or need a smart new upgrade, these quick tips should help you make the right choice

Borrow a bike and try it out
When you’ve figured out the right style of bike for you, to make double sure that you’re making the right choice, borrow a bike from a friend and try it out. Be sure to go on a ride longer than a lap around the parking lot, too. Twenty minutes should be enough to know if you are comfortable with the way you sit on a particular type of bike, and if the pace is right for you, or if it will be something that ultimately disappoints you.
An example – I thought I’d get a hybrid bike for commuting. I thought that the upright posture and a sturdier frame would be just what I needed. But just a few minutes on the bike and I could tell that I wasn’t able to go fast enough to suit me, and that I wasn’t going to be happy with that type of bike for the long run.

Spend some time at your local bike shop
The people who run your LBS are your best resource on bike buying. These folks are knowledgeable, and can offer tips, advice and service that you can never get over the internet.
A reader wrote about her experience buying from her local shop: “It was a great experience and I ended up with the perfect bike for me. What ended up being the deciding factor [in my cheap bikes choice] was going to the bike shop and talking to the salesman about what I was looking for. I went in thinking I wanted one bike, but after talking with him and describing what I’d be using it for, it turned out I was really after something else.”

Whatever your size and shape, there’s a bike for you
People can spend thousands on a bike but the money is totally wasted if the bike doesn’t fit you. The most important thing when buying a bike is to get the correct size. The frame needs to be right, so make sure you test the bike: think about the width of the bars and the length of the handlebar stem.

Feel comfortable with the gears
Commuter cyclist Joe Halloran recalls that, “The brakes, wheels and gears all need to be of a good quality, just as much as the frame itself. When I was looking to buy a bike, the components were an important factor. ”
As an example, work out whether you want “derailleur” gears typical of racing bikes – multiple cogs on the front and rear wheels linked by a movable chain mechanism to give the bike up to 30 “speeds” – or hub gearing common on utility (hybrid) bikes, whereby a gearbox is built into the rear wheel’s hub, offering greater protection against weather and bashes but fewer gears.

Keep an inch clearance between the bike’s top tube and your nether regions
Remember the saddle position can be adjusted forwards and back as well as up and down, and the handlebars too. Eye-watering as it sounds, this is the best way to check the reach and height of the bike is right for you. Your dealer should let you do a test-ride so take advantage.

Bikes can be gender-specific
Now the main difference is that the top tube is shorter in length because women tend to have a shorter reach. Traditionally, women’s bikes possessed a slanted top tube to make it easier to dismount in a skirt.  Also, with more expensive bikes, the suspension may be specially adjusted.

Get the right saddle – Men and women have different-shaped pelvises.
Women’s saddles are slightly wider and shorter. Ensure you choose a saddle that matches your shape, even if this means changing the one that came with the bike. For comfort, a softer saddle is better for short trips.

Consider buying used cheap bike
The best way to get a decent bike without forking out a whole bunch of money, particularly if you’re still wondering if you’ll stick with it for a while, is to buy a used bike rather than purchasing one new.
While shopping for a used bike on your own means you won’t have the same input as you get from a knowledgeable salesman at the local bike shop, the opportunity to take the bike for a test ride coupled with a little online research should be enough to tell you about the suitability of your purchase. And sources abound, from sites like Craigslist to the classified ads in the newspaper to a swap board carried by your local bike shop on its website.

So, after you’ve thought thoroughly about they type of riding you’ll be doing, and taken a several different types out for test rides, go get the very best (Cheap Bikes) bike you can afford. It’ll be money well spent.

Buying bike from an auction web is rarely a good investment
Avoid buying bikes that are unseen/untried/on the cheap bikes (they are never bargains) or flat-packed/self-assembly/auction website bikes.Purchasing second-hand is difficult, and there’s a lot to be said for shopping around and taking someone with you who knows what they are talking about.

If you do buy online, know what questions to ask first
If you are determined to buy one second-hand online, check the bike’s frame number first to ensure it’s not stolen.  And also it’s never easy to buy a bike without riding it first.

Flash the cash
Spend to the hilt of your budget. The point of buying as high as you dare is that the better the bike (cheap bikes), the greater the pleasure it will bring you. The greater the joy, the more you’ll want to use it.  But remember also what safety and security accessories you need (starting with lights, helmet and a lock or two).

Cheap Bikes Video – Trek 1.1 Vs. Cheap Bikes

Just a quick comparison between my 220.00 bike and my 800.00 trek. The biggest difference is that the trek was assembled by a professional and works flawlessly. My Lambo was assembled by me and rarely functions at 100%. I know that there are those capable of assembling bikes perfectly, but for the average rider it´s harder than you think. Weight is another key issue and will make a huge difference in the long run. The cheaper bike weighs roughly four times more than the trek. Parts quality and smoothness of the ride are also major issues.